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Definition of aardvark

aardvark

/ˈɑːrd.vɑːrk/
aard · vark
Plural:aardvarks
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aardvark Lexical Profile

aardvark Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A medium-sized, nocturnal, burrowing mammal (Orycteropus afer) native to sub-Saharan Africa, characterized by a long pig-like snout, large rabbit-like ears, and a heavy muscular tail, which feeds primarily on ants and termites.

Example

"During our night safari in the savanna, we were incredibly lucky to spot an aardvark using its strong claws to tear open a termite mound."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for aardvark

• Nearby Words

aachen
aah
aalborg
aardvark
aardwolf
aare
aargh

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed from Afrikaans 'aardvark' (literally 'earth pig'), from Dutch 'aarde' (earth) and 'varken' (pig), named for its burrowing habits.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Aardvark. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/aardvark
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